The group has made it's way from the spring rains of Galilee to the warmer desert temperatures of Masada, the Dead Sea and Qumran. Jane experienced first hand the enormity and impressiveness of the excavation and dig at Beit She'an. In the shot of the theatre seating you can see Ami Segal, our favorite guide in Israel, describing significance of the seating. Can't wait to see video upon their return.
Shabbat Shalom is a common greeting in Hebrew before the Sabbath which translates to Peace on your Sabbath. What a beautiful blessing to wish for someone each week. It was the promise of the Savior in John 14:27 " Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:..."
The group experienced their first Sabbath in Israel. They had church services in Tiberius on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. What a picturesque back drop. They also visited the Mount of Beatitudes. Peace is the best word to describe the feeling you get visiting there and pondering the blessings of the Sermon on the Mount.
Dave (Bullet) reports that Zippori was one of the highlights of the day.
"Zippori was very cool today with lots of new to me excavations...cactus heaven to learn about Sabra's...is it still called a Selfie when you have 2 heads?"
Pictures from Dave and Jane from day 1.
Read moreGood morning Israel. This is the view from our Dan Panorama hotel as we awoke this morning. Day one begins.
I came across Natalie Portman's essay on how she feels about her home. She identifies what makes Israel the most unique place on earth.
Where I was born. Where I ate my first Popsicle and used a proper toilet for the first time. Where some of my 18-year-old friends spend their nights in bunkers sleeping with their helmets on. Where security guards are the only jobs in surplus. Where deserts bloom and pioneer stories are sentimentalized. Where a thorny, sweet cactus is the symbol of the ideal Israeli. Where immigrating to Israel is called “ascending” and emigrating from Israel is called “descending.” Where my grandparents were not born, but where they were saved.
Where the year passes with the season of olives, of almonds, of dates. Where the transgressive pig or shrimp dish speaks defiantly from a Jerusalem menu. Where, despite substantial exception, secularism is the rule. Where wine is religiously sweet. Where “Arabic homes” is a positive real estate term with no sense of irony. Where there is endless material for dark humor. Where there are countless words for “to bother,” but no single one yet for “to pleasure.” Where laughter is the currency; jokes the religion. Where political parties multiply more quickly than do people. Where to become religious is described as “returning to an answer” and becoming secular “returning to a question.”
Where six citizens have won Nobel prizes in 50 years. Where the first one earned an Olympic gold in 2004 for sailing (an Israeli also won the bronze for judo). Where there is snow two hours north and hamsin (desert wind) two hours south. Where Moses never was allowed to walk, but whose streets we litter. Where the language in which Abraham spoke to Isaac before he was to sacrifice him has been resuscitated to include the words for “sweatshirt” and “schadenfreude” and “chemical warfare” and “press conference.” Where the muezzin chants, and the church bells sound and the shofars cry freely at the Wall. Where the shopkeepers bargain. Where the politicians bargain. Where there will one day be peace but never quiet.
Where I was born; where my insides refuse to abandon
I came across this video from Aish.com this morning. I have viewed it before and it always touches me deeply. I had a good friend ask me recently "what is with all the Israel stuff on your Facebook page?" I smiled and said "because I love it. " I knew I only had about a minute to explain that more fully before we had to go so I searched for the words to convey how I feel. It is hard to explain in words. It is a collection of mine and my family's experiences being there, my late father's love and reverence with the holy land, the truly miraculous cascade of events that have preserved its people and the country itself, the good that comes to the world because of Israel, and it's the wonderful people of Israel.
It's a lot like hiking a tall mountain or ridge and then when you get to the top, you stop and take in the breathless view and feel the satisfaction of the journey and making it to the top. When I think about the struggle of the Jewish people and the sacrifices made to establish and protect Israel, a daily or weekly pause to admire and love the view they have created and appreciate and pay respect to the journey is certainly justified, knowing full well there are more summits to climb.
If you love Israel we would love to hear why.
Cameron
Video courtesy of Aish.com
Okay this video was too good to pass up. It is shot in Israel using the latest technology which is referred to as 4K. It is the next generation of cameras that are a kin to HD on steroids. Tremendous resolution and picture but produce very large files. That being said I can't think of a better place to shoot in 4K than the Holy Land
To purchase any of the clips featured in this reel, go to: http://stockfootage.com/product-category/israel-4k-uhd-stock-footage-reel/ You can also view more Israel footage at: http://israelfootage.com/ or by visiting http://StockFootage.com/ All the clips shown in this video are available for purchase in 4K. Israel in 4K/Ultra HD stock video compilation is a collection of stock footage that showcases only Israel in 4K/Ultra HD footage.
Wanted to share this wonderfully produced time-lapse video showing the very best of Jerusalem. Almost like being there. We can solve that too!
http://www.israel.org Filmed and composed by Vitaly Vyazovsky (facebook.com/vitaly.vyazovsky) The author expresses his gratitude to those people who contributed to the creation of this video: Michael and Frida Libman - mishalibman.com Alik Litvack - litvack.ru Dima Brickman - dimabrickman.com Visit the MFA's Social Media Channels: Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/IsraelMFA http://www.facebook.com/IsraeliVibe Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/Israel http://www.twitter.com/IsraelMFA
Filmed and composed by Vitaly Vyazovsky
Jerusalem the Movie will begin showing at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, Utah on October 18th. Exciting news for our friends and family in Utah. In IMAX of course! http://www.jerusalemthemovie.com
